Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia

Affects thoughts, emotions, behaviors; leads to withdrawal from reality.

Positive Symptoms

Include delusions, hallucinations, thought disorder.

Negative Symptoms

Include avolition, flattened affect, and impaired cognition.

Dopamine Hypothesis

Schizophrenia symptoms from overactivity of dopamine.

Antipsychotic Medications

Treatments; typical (1st gen) or atypical (2nd gen).

Typical Antipsychotics

1st gen; treat positive symptoms; risk of Tardive Dyskinesia.

Atypical Antipsychotics

2nd gen; less D2 receptor binding; varied side effects.

Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT)

Induces seizures; used for severe schizophrenia.

Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT)

Modifies negative thoughts; teaches coping skills.

Freeman et al. (2003) Study Aim

Investigated persecutory thoughts in VR without mental illness.

Zervas et al. (2012) Study Findings

ECT effective for catatonic schizophrenia; improves medication response.

Senksy et al. (2000) Study Conclusion

CBT improves schizophrenia symptoms; longer-lasting effects than control.

Idiographic vs Nomothetic Approaches

Debate: individual case studies vs broad treatment generalizations.

Treatment and Management of Schizophrenia

Medications, ECT, CBT; varying effectiveness on symptoms.

Sarkar and Grover (2013) Study

Meta-analysis on effectiveness of 1st vs 2nd gen antipsychotics.

Catatonic Schizophrenia

Subtype with motor activity disturbances; ECT can be effective.

Withdrawal from Reality

Decreased engagement with reality; major symptom of schizophrenia.

Case Studies

Highlight individual experiences in understanding schizophrenia.